Apparatus for feeding and splicing tape-shaped materials

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for providing a continuous feed of taped shaped material, which comprises a first bobbin having tape thereon for unwinding, a second bobbin having tape thereon for unwinding, means for monitoring the tape remaining on the first bobbin as it is unwound, means for severing the tape being unwound from the first bobbin after the sensing of a predetermined tape level on the first bobbin by the monitoring means, and means for joining the leading end of the tape from the second bobbin to the tape from the first bobbin at a point forward of the point of severence thereof.

[111 3,738,587 1451 June 12, 1973 United States Patent 1 Crist' 3,467,334 9/1969 Chesnut.................. 3,549,458 12/1970 Osta..... 3,567,534 3/1971. Kushiro...............................

Primary Examiner-Douglas J. Drummond Attorney-George W. Price and Barry H. Fishkin [73] Assignee:

[22] Filed:

ABSTRACT Apparatus for providing a continuous feed of taped shaped material,

which comprises a first bobbin having tape thereon for unwinding, a second bobbin having tape thereon for unwinding, means for monitoring the tape remaining on the first bobbin as it is unwound, means for severing the tape being unwound from the first bobbin after the sensing of a predetermined tape 48 ,4 O Z 59m 6 1 whl 55 52 8 0 N S 496 215 l 5 n "2 "B "4 m. m2 mmmm HUNG nun 0" mmm .r1 "8 U In C sun .UIF 1 1 11] 218 555 iii References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS level on the first bobbin by the monitoring means, and

means for joining the leading end of the tape from the 10/1962 Gagg et 156/504 second bobbin to the tape from the first bobbin at a point forward of the point of severenee thereof.

3,374,963 3/1968 Conti 3,233,526 3,298,890

2/1966 Sherman............... 156/504 Hellemans..........................

156/504 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures Patented June 12, 1973 3 Shoots-Shoat 1 INVENTOR.

ATH OS CRISTIANI ATTORNEY Patented June 12, 1973 3,738,587

3 Sheets-Sheot I INVENTOIL ATHOS CRISTIANI BY ATTORNEY Patented June 12, 1973 3,738,587

3 Shuts-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ATHO'S'CRISTIANI APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND SPLICING TAPE-SHAPED MATERIALS BACKGROUND This invention relates to tape or strip shaped material feed mechanisms and more particularly to an apparatus for feeding a continuous paper tape or strip to a cigarette making machine.

In cigarette making apparatus, a continuous tobacco rod is longitudinally wrapped in a paper tape in order to form the so-called continuous rod" from which single cigarettes are cut in succession.

In these machines it is convenient that the paper tape be fed in a uniform and continuous manner. In any event, the tape should be fed without interruption so the machine is not down for relatively long intervals of time each time a tape bobbin is depleted.

SUMMARY It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide means for providing a continuous feeding of tape from a-source to a utilizing mechanism.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for switching the feed of tape or strip shaped material from one bobbin or mandrel to another without interrupting the feed of the material.

It is a more specific objectof this invention to .provide means for attaching the trailing end of a paper tape being unwound from one bobbin to the leading edge of a full bobbin which is then unwound to assure continued paper tape feed.

In accordance with these andother objects apparatus according to the invention may comprise a first bobbin having tape thereon for unwinding, means for monitoring the tape remaining on the first bobbin as it is unwound, means for severing the tape being unwound from the first bobbin after the sensing of a predetermined tape level on the first bobbin by the monitoring means, and means for joining the leading end of the tape from the second bobbin to the tape from the first bobbin at a point forward of the point of severance thereof.

Another feature of such apparatus may include means for automatically causing the full and empty bobbins to change places so that a full bobbin is always in an unwinding condition whilethe empty one can be easily replaced with another full bobbin, the leading end of the tape thereon being conveniently prearranged and positioned for the next automatic splicing operation.

More specifically, the invention relates to a bobbin carrier having two mandrels mounted on shafts disposed in parallel spaced relationship, each mandrel adapted to receive a respective tape bobbin. The mandrel carrier is rotatably mounted around a central shaft disposed parallel to and intermediate that of the mandrel shafts. A cam is mounted on the central shaft and cooperates with a sensing and braking means which is sensitive to the quantity of tape existing in the unwinding bobbin andcapable to control, in response to said quantity, the actuation of a splicing and bobbin position changing device which cuts and splices the trailing end of the bobbin about to be depleted with the leading end of the full stand-by bobbin and subsequently causes the two bobbins to change places by having the mandrel carrier accomplish half a revolution around the axis of said central'shaft.

The features of the invention and the resulting advantages will be understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an assembly perspective view of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view of a detail of FIG. 1

erating phases of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an arm 1 which carries at each end a mandrel, 101 and 102 respectively, suitable for mounting a cigarette paper tape bobbin. Intermediate the ends thereof, arm 1 is fastened to an end of a shaft 2 which operates to rotate arm 1, as described hereafter.

Referring to FIG. 2, a spring pin 3 is mounted in each end of the arm 1, each of which extends outwardly toward the fixed frame I of the instant apparatus. A recess 4 is provided in the fixed frame I and each of the pins is adapted to be received alternatively in the recess as arm 1 rotates to lock the rotation of arm 1 at each half a revolution thereof.

On mandrels 101 and 102 are mounted two respective tape bobbins B1 and B2 of which, for the example of the configuration of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, the first is the unwinding bobbin and the second the standby bobbin.

The section of tape N2 of bobbin B2 inthe vicinity of the leading end or beginning of the tape is laid in a guide 5 having an air permeable bottom communicating with a chamber in which a certain quantity of vacuum is maintained so that the tape is held gently on the guide.

The arrangement of tape N2 held on mouthpiece 5 is such that the leading end of the tape lies tangentially on a tape splicing roller 6. The said end of the tape can be provided with a self-adhesive area or an adhesive tongue L could be applied thereto on both faces A brake, consisting of a long arm 7, is mounted on a shaft 107 integral therewith and disposed parallel to shaft 2. The arm 7 is disposed to tangentially engage tape N1 of the unwinding bobbin (bobbin B1 in the case of FIG. 1) so as to exert a slight braking action on the tape itself, while it progressively pivots downwardly as the bobbin B1 is gradually depleted.

A circular notched cam 8 is fastened to shaft 107. The cam actuates a microswitch 9 when lever 7 has reached the position corresponding to the substantial depletion of bobbin B1 (FIG. 3). The actuation of microswitch 9 causes the cigarette making machine to which tape is being fed to'stop.

A cross lever 13 is mountedon ashaft positioned in spaced relationship with shaft 2. An arm 313 extends from cross lever 13 and is connected through a rod 17 to the end of an arm 15 of a bell-crank lever which is mounted on a shaft 16 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction (with reference to FIG. 1 by a-tensioned helical spring 18 that is mounted between .arm 15 and the machine frame.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are diagrams illustrating the various op- After the cigarette maker has stopped as a consequence of the actuation of microswitch 9 by cam 8, a pushbutton 10 is pressed, energizing solenoid 1 1, lifting a tongue member 12. In its lowered position, this tongue member engages a tooth fastened to an end 313 of cross lever 13 and thus prevents the clockwise rotation of this lever, urged by spring 18 through lever arm 15 and 313. Therefore, when tongue 12 is lifted due to the actuation of solenoid 1 1, spring 18 causes the counter-clockwise rotation of lever 15.

Upon the rotation of lever 15, a rod 19 mounted at the end thereof causes the closing of a scissors 20, cutting the end of the tape of the depleted bobbin B1. Scissors 20 includes a movable blade operated by rod 19 and a stationary ledger. The movable blade is normally positioned at the angle shown in FIG. 1 and operation of rod 19 swings the movable blade against the ledger to cut the tape. Concurrently with the cutting of the tape, connecting rod 17 causes the clockwise rotation of lever 13, which drives roller 6 to roller 21, engaging the leading end of tape N2 of stand-by bobbin B2 and splicing the two tapes together. This operative phase is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. The splicing between the two tape ends is effected by an adhesive tongue L or some other suitable means.

The position of lever 15 upon completion of the rotation of lever 13 is such that a roller 22 fitted at the end of an arm 115 mounted on shaft 16 is tangent to the profile of a cam 23 in the area of one or the other of two recesses 123 provided 180 apart in said cam. Cam 23 is keyed to shaft 2 of mandrel holding arm 1.

As a result of the clockwise rotation of lever 13, arm 113 actuates the contact of a microswitch 24 which is associated with a time delay device and thus causes, upon a predetermined delay, the energization of a solenoid 25. Energization of solenoid 25 causes a rod 26, attached thereto and to an arm 213 of lever 13, to rotate lever 13 in the counter-clockwise direction around shaft 14, in opposition to the action of spring 18. This causes arm 313 of lever 13 to be hooked by tongue 12 which, in the meantime, will have been moved to its down position due to the de-energization of solenoid l1, resetting this mechanism and returning the scissors 20 to the position shown in FIG. 1. Solenoid 25 remains energized for a certain period of time from the moment in which the operator restarts the cigarette making machine.

Then, tape N2 of bobbin B2 (FIG. 5), starts unwinding and slides slightly on brake 27 mounted rotatable integrally around a shaft 127 on which is also fastened a notched cam 29 which cooperates with a microswitch 30. The progressive reduction of the diameter of the stand-by bobbin B2, mounted on the lower mandrel 102, is accompanied by the downward rotation of brake 27 (FIG. 5). When the diameter of bobbin B2 is reduced to such a value that roller 28 is tangent to cam 23 in the area of the two diametrally opposite recesses 123, a cam 29 mounted to the brake 27 actuates the contact of a microswitch 30, which energizes a solenoid 31, expelling the locking pin 3 in hole 4 therefrom, freeing arm 1 for rotation.

Concurrently, a motor 32 is started, thus driving shaft 2, and consequently arm 1, in a counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 6). During the rotation of shaft 2, cam 23, keyed to it, acts on roller 28 in such a way as to lift brake 27 until arm 271 is brought into contact with the core of a solenoid 33, which is now energized. This core magnetically holds the brake in a lifted position (FIG. 7) so as to allow the free rotation of arm 1. This rotation of arm 1 exchanges the position of the two bobbins B1 and B2 and transfers the axis of the tape N2 being unwound from B2 to that shown in FIG. 1 for tape N1.

The rotation of cam 23 also causes theclockwise pivoting of lever 15, temporarily moving the movable blade of scissors 20 to a position approximately perpendicular to the stationary ledger to allow the transfer of the axis of the paper tape which, due to the effect of the feed tension and the exchange of bobbin positions, will be separated from the suction guide 5. The action of a cam 34, also fitted to the shaft 2, causes the rotation of the shaft 2 to be limited to a half revolution by the actuation of a microswitch 35 coupled to the motor 32. At the same time, the bobbin holding arm 1 is locked through the insertion of a pin 3 into hole 4. At this time, during the further unwinding of bobbin B2 which has thus moved in the upper position, a new stand-by bobbin can be mounted on the lower mandrel which will now be mandrel 101 (FIG. 7).

By pressing pushbutton 10 to initiate the cutting and splicing operations, when the bobbin being unwound is depleted, solenoid 33 de-energizes, whereby the brake 27 goes down into contact with the stand-by bobbin.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment which has been illustrated and described, but numerous variants and modifications can be introduced above all from a constructional point of view. Thus, for instance, the necessity of manual interventions on pushbutton 10 could be eliminated or, at least, rendered optional by providing a sequence circuit, with opportune delays which allows to effect the bobbin splicing and the subsequent machine restarting. Furthermore, with opportune arrangements, the tape splicing could be made with adevice according to the invention, even without involving the stopping of the tape feed to the machine so that said machine could operate with absolute continuity also during the tape splicing and bobbin change operations. All these modifications are possible without departing from the principle of the invention explained in the foregoing and claimed hereunder.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for providing a continuous feed of tape, comprising a rotatable central shaft and a bobbin carrier mounted on said central shaft,

motor means for rotatably driving said central shaft and lock means at the ends of said bobbin carrier each for locking said shaft and carrier against rotation,

a first bobbin of tape mounted on said bobbin carrier unwinding tape in response to demand,

a second bobbin of tape mounted on said bobbin carrier diametrically opposite from said first bobbin, first and second splicing rollers each spaced from the other, the unwinding tape of said first bobbin passing over said first splicing roller and the lead end of the tape of said second bobbin being disposed on said second splicing roller and provided with an adhesive,

tape severing means disposed between said first bobbin and said first splicing roller,

first means for sensing the supply of tape on said first bobbin and second means for sensing the supply of tape on said second bobbin,

from said second bobbin causing said locking means to release said bobbin carrier and said motor means to rotate said shaft until said bobbins each assume the position of the other, and

said central shaft having cam means moving said sensing means out of the paths of said bobbins when said central shaft is rotated and resetting said splicing rollers and said severing means against the force of said spring means. 

1. Apparatus for providing a continuous feed of tape, comprising a rotatable central shaft and a bobbin carrier mounted on said central shaft, motor means for rotatably driving said central shaft and lock means at the ends of said bobbin carrier each for locking said shaft and carrier against rotation, a first bobbin of tape mounted on said bobbin carrier unwinding tape in response to demand, a second bobbin of tape mounted on said bobbin carrier diametrically opposite from said first bobbin, first and second splicing rollers each spaced from the other, the unwinding tape of said first bobbin passing over said first splicing roller and the lead end of the tape of said second bobbin being disposed on said second splicing roller and provided with an adhesive, tape severing means disposed between said first bobbin and said first splicing roller, first means for sensing the supply of tape on said first bobbin and second means for sensing the supply of tape on said second bobbin, means responsive to said first sensing means when the tape of said first bobbin is substantially depleted for moving at least one of said splicing rollers towards the other to a splicing position closing the space therebetween splicing the tapes and operating said severing means to cut the tape of said first bobbin between said bobbin and the splice, spring means retaining said splicing rollers in the splicing position and said severing means operated, means responsive to said second sensing means when a predetermined amount of tape has been unwound from said second bobbin causing said locking means to release said bobbin carrier and said motor means to rotate said shaft until said bobbins each assume the position of the other, and said central shaft having cam means moving said sensing means out of the paths of said bobbins when said central shaft is rotated and resetting said splicing rollers and said severing means against the force of said spring means. 